The Australian Christian Right Versus Adoption Reform: The "Research" (Sic)

The New South Wales Parliament's Lower House passed its adoption reform bill, which still has to pass the upper house before it can become law. In the interests of clear and accurate debate, I thought I'd focus on what the Australian Christian Right is actually saying about same-sex parenting.

Firstly, though, what does mainstream, evidence-based and peer reviewed medical and social scientific research say about same-sex parenting? As Judith Stacey and Tim Biblarz noted in their benchmark literature review about the existing social scientific, pediatric and developmental psychology research, published in peer reviewed professional journals and upheld as policy by most mainstream US child welfare organisations, the key findings are these:

Of course, you won't find any of the above in the Australian Christian Right's propaganda against same-sex parenting. I was going to review the Australian Christian Lobby's "Kids Rights Count" in this article, but as the website is now down (possibly due to the Rekers NARTH link it held beforehand), I decided to focus on Salt Shakers, Family Voice and the Australian Christian Lobby publications against same-sex parenting instead. I found some sadly familiar pieces of junk 'science' amidst their propaganda and parliamentary submissions. Just like their New Zealand counterparts.

For example, the Australian Christian Lobby and Salt Shakers cite the work of Paul Cameron, George Rekers, David Popenoe, Saran Sarantokos, Steven Nock, David Lerner and Althea Nagai in their attempted "rebuttals" of mainstream same-sex parenting research.

Popenoe is a social conservative activist and his work has been repeatedly criticised in mainstream family sociologist circles for its selective citation of materials that suit his own position. Sarantokos work deals primarily with the subjective impressions of teachers in specific contexts, as opposed to anything substantive about same-sex parenting. Nock, Lerner and Nagai are social conservative 'hired gun' social scientists who attack procedures and research of other disciplines that they themselves lack any professional competence in. George Rekers has been declared a 'nonperson' in his former National Association for Research and Treatment of Homosexuality "exgay" group due to that unfortunate rent boy baggage handler incident. As for Paul Cameron, what hasn't been said about this charlatan's abuse of research ethics, expulsion from professional associations due to that abuse and other instances of his lack of any mainstream credibility as a 'social scientist?'

All that the above demonstrates is that as ever, the US Christian Right is still the pusher of propaganda, rhetoric, strategy and tactics to its satellites in Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere. These derivative pressure groups cite pseudoscientists, hired guns and ideologues with no professional standing within mainstream child welfare, health and development organisations whatsoever. On the other hand, LGBT community organisations, lobby groups and the aforementioned mainstream child health, welfare and development organisations support same-sex parenting reforms.